Iran slams deployment of U.S. F-22 Raptors in UAE: lawmaker

Tehran, Apr 29 (Xinhua-ANI): A senior Iranian lawmaker slammed the recent deployment of the U.S. F-22 Raptors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Sunday.

The Rapporteur of Iranian Majlis (Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Kazem Jalali said that stockpiling weapons would threaten stability in the region.

Jalali made the remarks referring to the recent media reports that the U.S. recently deployed its F-22 Raptors at the UAE Al Dafra Air Base.

Deployment of stealth jet fighters in the air base in the UAE is a U.S.-Zionist move, Jalali said, adding that Arab countries should be held accountable for the consequences of the move.

Regional peace and security would be established if all regional countries are united and the presence of major powers as well as stockpiling weapons inside the region would insecure the area, he said according to the report.

Iran and the UAE both claimed territorial sovereignty over the three islands of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa in the Persian Gulf and have been at odds over them for decades.

Earlier this month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Iran-controlled Abu Musa island, a move that immediately sparked criticism from Arab countries and the recall of UAE's ambassador from Iran.

The United States government has called for a peaceful resolution of the islands' dispute between Iran and the UAE, saying the recent visit by Ahmadinejad to the island complicated the situation. (Xinhua-ANI)